#the vacant lot

[oldshowbiz]

After the success of the Kids in the Hall, a sketch troupe called The Vacant Lot - featuring Mark McKinney's brother - was touted as the next big thing.

Unfortunately, the hype built unrealistic expectations. Despite the support of Lorne Michaels, the Canadian sketch troupe faded from view rather quickly.

[sketchcomedyclips]

The Vacant Lot- "Slept on His Arms" S1E1

[bandcampsnoop]

3/13/24.

McTells (Hertford, England) were one of the many British bands from the mid-80s. Yes, they are on the Cherry Red Records behemoth 4 CD C86 compilation from 2014.

Like many bands from that era, McTells are releasing a new LP. Unlike others, this looks to be a completely DIY affair - look at those handmade cassette cases made from cereal boxes.

The music is just outstanding. This recalls any number of bands from The Clean (great keyboard work on "Cut It Out") to The Vacant Lot (vocals). And I saw that Trouser Press said that "the band’s early work holds a British mirror up to Australia’s Cannanes".

[tvthemesongs]

The Vacant Lot intro

[bandcampsnooper]

8/10/23.

Drop Nineteens are another band reforming 30 years later. I've loved these reunion albums for a several reasons. First, I love the idea of friends coming back to make music years later - I appreciate that the passion and love for music stays strong. Second, some of these "reformation" albums are strong - the recent Vacant Lot post comes immediately to mind. Also, those Mission of Burma albums for the late aughts/early 2010s were outstanding. And finally, sometimes the reformation brings a band across my radar for the first time.

All three appear to be true on "Hard Light", the new album from Drop Nineteens (Boston, Massachusetts). And while I'm not the biggest fan of shoegaze, I do like it. This reminds me of some Yo La Tengo, and Erik Blood (listen to Touch Screens).

Wharf Cat is releasing this on the heels of another reformed band release from Bush Tetras.

[hitchell-mope]

That was nice of them

[childofsardior]

☀️ Summertime Vacantion ☀️

Interviewer: Child of Sardior, are you aware that the Koopalings are no longer considered Bowser's children by Nintendo?

CoS: Thanks for asking. Yes, I am aware that in the current canon of the games, the Koopalings are not considered kids of the Koopa King anymore, but his loyal minions instead. I am aware this change was made around the time of Super Mario Sunshine, along the debut of Bowser Jr., more than 20 years ago. And No, I don't give s**t about it.

(Ofc, I'm talking about my personal Headcanon :P I love the current canon Koopalings and their personality, and I love them in any type of hc, be they Bowser's kids or not x3)

WELCOME TO MY KOOPA-FAMILY-HYPERFIXATION ERA!

[daguerreotyping]

Absolutely stunning post-mortem daguerreotype of a young man with killer cheekbones and haunting eyes, c. 1850

[archiveofaffinities]

Billboards occupy the vacant lots along Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, 1928

[rumeko]

surely

咲く

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Kids playing in a vacant lot, 1950.

Photo: Dennis Johnson Flickr

[robertpallesen]

Street Scene, Portland, OR © Robert Pallesen

[sketchcomedyclips]

The Vacant Lot- "(This Song's Gonna Make A) Great Video" S1E6

[bandcampsnoop]

10/19/23.

Comeback albums after a long layoff are quite common these days. And when they work, they're magical. Look back at The Vacant Lot (6/13/23) for example. They returned after 40 years and their comeback album "The Ark" was fantastic.

The American Devices were a 1980s post-punk band based in Montreal, Canada. The Bandcamp write-up may is a bit over-the-top in the guitar duo comparisons, but the fact remains true: this is an excellent comeback. True it's only a 7", but still.

Actually, if you ignore the cover, you'll probably love the career spanning compilation "The American Devices". They sound like they have one foot firmly planted in Minutemen, Meat Puppets style while sounding like they could have influenced Parquet Courts.

This 7" is available via Celluloid Lunch Records (also based in Montreal). You can find the compilation CD on Discogs (it was released in 2006 by Grenadine Records) - 22 songs!

[bobcatmoran]

I didn’t make anything for Barricade Day this year, but I did go to Hugo, Minnesota, which is named after exactly who you think it is, and said “hi” to a certain neighborhood.

[lucydoodlessometimes]

anyway. you guys wanna hear about my harbinger traveler au